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Officials in the city have taken into custody thirteen people on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter in connection with last week’s devastating fire, amid growing public outcry over the arrests of civilians calling for responsibility.

Search Continues as Death Toll Climbs

Emergency services persisted in combing through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court residential area in Tai Po on Monday, following the most fatal blaze in seven and a half decades. The number of fatalities reached one hundred and fifty-one and is expected to rise higher as the operation continues. About forty people are still missing.

Construction Work Linked to Fire’s Cause

The estate, home to almost five thousand people, had been undergoing major refurbishment that have been associated with the fire’s cause. In the wake of the tragedy, anger has grown over alleged past safety violations by the construction company working at the site and poor oversight of standards, spurred on by disclosures that residents had been complaining about the renovations for a twelve months.

Arrests Include Corporate Executives

On Monday afternoon, officials said anti-corruption authorities had detained thirteen people over the tragedy so far, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company, and had “immediately begun a thorough probe along the lines of manslaughter”.

Substandard Materials Revealed

A senior official stated that seven of 20 tested specimens of the mesh netting used around the towers did not meet fire-retardant standards. Preliminary checks had found materials were compliant, but the official said the less expensive, noncompliant netting had been installed in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, describing it as a “shameful act”.

“They just wanted to profit at the expense of people’s lives,” he said.

Citizens Detained Amid Demands for Accountability

As accusations of safety violations grow, alongside reports that government authorities had issued several seemingly unenforced warnings, residents have asked why no officials have yet faced consequences. Instead, two members of the public were allegedly arrested by national security police.

One individual, named as a Hong Kong student, was detained over an online petition that made “four requests” for guaranteed support for the affected families and responsibility for those at fault, including any corrupt or culpable public servants.

Reports said the student was detained for “seditious intention”. Law enforcement did not confirm the detention, saying only that they “will act according to the situation and in accordance with the law”.

News outlets also covered the detention of a ex-local representative.

Official Response on Detentions

Asked about the detentions, the secretary of security said there had been “inaccurate comments on the internet” that were aimed to undermine public security. “Therefore, we must take appropriate measures, including police action,” the secretary told a press conference. “Specifics of the operation cannot be disclosed as they involve state security.”

Public Reaction and Parallels Drawn

On Hong Kong social media, people condemned the detention of citizens. “National security must be prioritised even if the victims are still trapped in the structure,” said a comment.

Several users made parallels to the Chinese mainland. “The mainland, such acts are called ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said a user. “They are typically punished with heavy sentences. Stability trumps everything.”

Another said: “Since we are aligning with the mainland’s methods, by targeting the individual who raises the question, nobody will venture to question, and therefore the city's administration will have no problems.”

Increased Scrutiny and Community Response

The detentions came after advisories by security officials that they would take action against anyone deemed to be using the tragedy to incite “anti-China” sentiment.

Prior to the arrests, authorities had already demonstrated increased vigilance to the public reaction. Following the suppression of earlier protests, public assemblies have been tightly controlled. In the days following the fire, community volunteers quickly organized relief efforts, with hundreds of people using cars and public transport to deliver mountains of clothes, food and other necessities for the survivors.

However, by evening, officers were patrolling the area, and government officials eventually took over from the volunteer organisers.

The appeal over which the individual was allegedly detained was launched late on Friday. Its “four demands” mirrored the terminology of previous campaigns but did not advocate systemic reform.

The individual informed media that he was only “putting forward fundamental requests”.

“If these ideas are deemed subversive or ‘transgressive’, then I feel I can’t predict the consequences of any action any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is right,” he stated.